ACME
HONOREES
IN RECOGNITION Mu Phi Epsilon is pleased to announce our latest ACME (Artists, Composers, Musicologists and Educators) honorees and include them among our most accomplished members whose achievements place them at the acme of our profession. Like all ACME honorees, they welcome mentoring requests and other contacts from Mu Phi members. For more information, contact ACME co-chairs Arietha Lockhart (Beta Gamma, Atlanta Alumni) and Mary Au (Mu Nu, Los Angeles Alumni) at ACME@muphiepsilon.org.
Ann Geiler Phi Theta, St. Louis Alumni
Ann Geiler is a retired string educator, cellist and performing musician. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Lindenwood University and her Master of Music Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Geiler retired in 2017 following a 30-year career teaching strings to students in fourth grade through junior college. She directed numerous school orchestras as well as the Metro Honors Orchestra in St. Louis. Many of her students went on to become members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the Missouri All-State Orchestra. She remains active in promoting string education in her retirement and is currently on the adjudicator committee for the Missouri State High School Activities Association. She is a trained adjudicator for the solo and small ensemble and large group festivals in Missouri. A professional cellist, Geiler is a member of the Quartet Brioso string quartet and an active player in many local orchestras including the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra and the Jacksonville Symphony in Jacksonville, Illinois. She is the conductor of the Alton Youth Symphony Chamber Orchestra. She serves on the International Executive Board of Mu Phi Epsilon as third vice president, alumni advisor. She is also the president of the St. Louis Alumni chapter and the editor of the Final Notes section in The Triangle. Additionally, Geiler is an active volunteer and volunteer trainer for the USO of Missouri, earning her the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2018 in recognition and appreciation for her commitment to strengthen our nation and communities through volunteer service.
Victor de Los Santos Gamma Sigma, Los Angeles Alumni
Victor de Los Santos earned his Bachelor of Arts Education from California State University Dominguez Hills and his Master of Music Education from the Concordia University Irvine. He has served as the director of bands at Santa Ana High School (SAHS) since 2007. He has received national recognition as an outstanding arts educator, including the Brillante Award (2015), the Honor Roll Award through Life Changer of the Year Award (2016) and was a finalist for the Grammy Educator of the Year three years in a row (2018, 2019 and 2020). As an educator, de Los Santos has successfully engaged students, parents, community members and school administrators in various music education programs and ensembles at SAHS. His programs help students build confidence and leadership skills. He has established numerous partnerships with local colleges and universities, to provide opportunities for students to advance themselves and change their family histories through college education. He also has secured scholarship funding, enabling many to attend college who would not otherwise be able to go. For his students who are interested in a career in music, de Los Santos tells them that a music teacher will never become rich. However, “If music and education are your passion, you will never work a day in your life.” De Los Santos was recently promoted to assistant principal at SAHS where he now has an even larger platform to advocate for music as a whole, focus on high standards for student learning and empower students to succeed by believing in themselves and in their community.
FALL 2021
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